Nozzle structure in washer fluid ejection apparatus

ABSTRACT

At a time of forming lip portions in upper and lower edge portions of an ejection port in a protruding manner, a nozzle for ejecting a washer fluid of a washer fluid ejection apparatus in a diffusion manner is structured such that a step surface is formed on an inner side surface such that protruding amounts of the lip portions are set to the same length with a protruding tip portion in a washer fluid ejection side of the lower lip portion positioned lower than a lower side edge portion of the ejection port. Accordingly, it is possible to make the ejected washer fluid substantially unaffected by the air flow during vehicle movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technical field of a nozzle structurein a washer fluid injection apparatus which supplies a washer fluid to awindshield of a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a washer fluid supplying apparatus is provided in thevicinity of a window surface, for example, in the vicinity of awindshield of a vehicle, and a structure is made such that a soil on thewindshield is washed by injection of the washer fluid onto thewindshield as occasion demands and a wiping operation by a wiper blade.In this structure, various kinds of proposals have been conventionallymade with respect to a shape of the injection nozzle for improving awashing efficiency. As this kind of nozzle, there has been suggested adiffusion type nozzle in which an injection port of the washer fluid isformed in a long rectangular shape in a lateral direction. In thisstructure, the washer fluid is applied to a wide range of the windowsurface and it is possible to efficiently wipe and wash the windshieldby the wiper blade even with a little fluid amount. However, in theinjection by this diffusion type nozzle, a grain diameter of the washerfluid becomes smaller as the washer fluid is apart from a nozzle center(corresponding to a preset injection hitting point). Further, in thiscase, the range in which the washer fluid is applied to the windowsurface is previously set so as to be optimum in a stopping state of thevehicle. Accordingly, in the case of injecting the washer fluid whilethe vehicle travels, the application range of the washer fluid tends tobe lower than the preset range. Further, in the case that the washerfluid is injected in the diffusion shape, a distribution of the graindiameter of the washer fluid is uniform in a vertical direction, asshown in FIG. 6A and a washer fluid drop of a smaller grain diameterwhich has been injected to an outer periphery side (an outer sideportion) of the fluid application range is largely affected by an airflow and furthermore, the influence of the air flow becomes moreremarkable as a traveling speed of the vehicle becomes higher.Accordingly, on the basis of the actual case mentioned above, it ispossible to set the fluid application range previously taking intoconsideration the air flow at a time when the vehicle travels, however,in this structure, the fluid application range at the stopping time isdisplaced to the high position, which is inappropriate position. As aresult, it is unavoidable to set the fluid application range to a middlefluid application range between one at the stopping time and one at thetraveling time, and there is a problem that the optimum fluidapplication range can be obtained in neither at the stopping time nor atthe traveling time.

Accordingly, in conventional, as shown in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open (JP-A) No. 2000-52939, there is proposed a structure in whicha protruding amount of lip portions respectively formed in a protrudingmanner in upper and lower edge portions of an injection port for thepurpose of regulating an injection range of the washer fluid is set sothat the lip portion in the lower side is shorter than the lip portionin the upper side, thereby regulating the injection of the washer fluidin such a manner as to prevent the injection of the washer fluid to theupper side from becoming far from a center of the nozzle, so that theair flow at the vehicle traveling time is hard to affect the washerfluid.

In this case, in the conventional structure mentioned above, the lipportion in the upper side is protruded in comparison with the lipportion in the lower side, however, since the nozzle itself is a smallmember, the protruding lip portion in the upper side is easily affectedby an external world. Namely, there is a problem that a sense of unityin design is reduced at a time when the nozzle is assembled in a nozzlebody, and a problem to be solved by the present invention exists here.

Further, the conventional nozzle body mentioned above is formed bymachining of a metal material, and is expensive in view of cost. Then,it is proposed that the nozzle is formed by a resin material, however,in the case that the nozzle having the different protruding lengthsbetween the upper and lower lip portions as described above, it issupposed that a force applied from the external world tends to beconcentrated in the protruding upper lip portion, so that it isimpossible to employ the structure having this shape, and a problem tobe solved also exists here.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made by taking the actual case mentioned aboveinto consideration, and an object of the present invention is to solvethe problems. In accordance with the present invention, a nozzlestructure in a washer fluid injection apparatus, there is provided anozzle comprising: a tubular hole portion communicated with a washerfluid supply side; an injection port communicated with the tubular holeportion and formed long from side to side; and a pair of upper and lowerlip portions respectively protruding in an injection direction fromupper and lower edge portions of the injection port so as to set aninjection direction of a washer fluid, wherein a protruding tip portionof the lower lip portion is positioned below a lower edge of theinjection port.

Further, in accordance with the structure mentioned above, it ispossible to make it hard to generate the problem that the injectionrange of the washer fluid injected from the injection port is changed tothe lower side due to the air flow when a vehicle travels.

In this structure, the protruding amounts of the upper and lower lipportions can be set to substantially the same size, whereby it ispossible to improve a design property.

Further, in this structure, the lower lip portion can be formed in astepped shape such that the protruding tip portion is positioned in alower side.

Furthermore, in this structure, the lower lip portion can be formed inan inclined shape such that the protruding tip portion is positioned ina lower side.

In this structure, the nozzle can be formed by a resin material, and canbe formed with reinforcing portions by connecting portions over left andright end portions of the upper and lower lip portions to each other ina bridge formation manner. In accordance with this structure, the lipportions are reinforced and a high strength can be obtained despite ofthe nozzle made of the resin.

Additionally, in this structure, in the case that the lower lip portionis formed in the stepped shape, a step surface of the lower lip portionis formed flush with the tip surfaces of the reinforcing portions.Accordingly, it is easy to set the step surface in forming a mold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a front portion in a vehicle;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are respectively a side view and a front view of aninjection nozzle in a side of an assistant driver, and a cross sectionalview in a nozzle assembled portion;

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are respectively a front view of the nozzle, a crosssectional view along a line X-X in FIG. 3A, and a cross sectional viewalong a line Y-Y in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 4 is a partly cutting perspective view of the nozzle;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are respectively cross sectional views ofnozzles in accordance with second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments;

FIG. 6A is a pattern diagram of a distribution of grain diameters in aninjection state of a washer fluid injected by a conventional nozzle; andFIG. 6B is a pattern diagram of a distribution of grain diameters in aninjection state of a washer fluid injected by the nozzle in accordancewith the first embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A description will be given of a first embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIG. 6B.

In the drawings, reference numerals 1, 2 denote wiper arms on a driver'sand a passanger's seat sides of a wiper apparatus. Respective base endportions of the wiper arms 1, 2 are integrally mounted to protruding tipportions of wiper shafts 3, 4 which are arranged on the driver's andpassanger's seat sides in a front panel P of the vehicle rotatably andin an upward protruding state. Wiper blades 5, 6 are detachably attachedto tip portions of the respective wiper arms 1, 2, and these wiperblades 5, 6 are set such that the wiper blades 5, 6 are brought intoelastic contact with a windshield FW by a biasing spring(not shown).Then, in accordance with forward and backward rotations of therespective wiper shafts 3, 4, the wiper blades 5, 6 in the tip portionsof the wiper arms 1, 2 are reciprocated and reverted on the windshieldFW. Accordingly, the respective wiper blades 5, 6 are set such as torespectively slide between a lower reverse position and an upper reverseposition of the windshield FW so as to wipe the window surface.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a pair of injection nozzles for injectingand supplying a washer fluid toward the windsheild FW on the driver'sand the passenger's seat sides. These injection nozzles 7 are arrangedat respective forward positions of the corresponding wiper shafts 3, 4on the driver's and the passenger's seat sides on the front panel Pmentioned above.

A nozzle body 8 constituting the injection nozzle 7 is provided with aholder portion 8 a in which a resin nozzle 9 embodied on the basis ofthe present invention is incorporated, and a connection portion 8 bwhich is integrally extended from a lower end portion of the holderportion 8 a and is used for mounting to an inner side of the front panelP in an immersing manner. Further, in the holder portion 8 a, there areformed an inclined window opposing surface 8 c facing to the side of thewindshield FW, and a mounting recess portion 8 d recessed from a side ofthe window opposing surface 8 c, where the nozzle 9 is assembled in sucha manner that a position of the nozzle 9 can be freely adjusted. On theother hand, a tubular hole 8 e serving as a flow passage for the washerfluid is formed inside the connection portion 8 b, and the mountingrecess portion 8 d and the connection portion tubular hole 8 e arecommunicated via a communication hole 8 f having a narrow diameter andformed in the side of the holder portion 8 a. In this case, in thenozzle body connection portion 8 b, there are formed a pair of hookportions 8 g for mounting to mounting holes pierced on the front panel Pin a come-off preventing manner and detachably.

The nozzle 9 is structured such that a tubular hole portion 9 b in awasher fluid supply side, a throttle hole portion 9 c connected to thetubular hole portion 9 b, and an injection port 9 d formed in atransversely long shape (formed in a rectangular shape in a horizontaldirection in the present embodiment) in a washer fluid injection sidetip portion of the throttle hole portion 9 c are formed in a centerportion of a spherical body 9 a inward fitted to the nozzle bodymounting recess portion 8 d so as to be communicated with each other.Further, a pair of upper and lower lip portions 9 e, 9 f respectivelyprotruding in the washer fluid injecting direction are formed from upperand lower edge portions of the injection port 9 d, and an injectingdirection of the washer fluid injected from the injection port 9 d isset by the lip portions 9 e, 9 f, whereby the washer fluid is set so asto be applied to a periphery around a preset injection hitting point ofthe windshield FW in a diffusion shape.

Further, each of a pair of upper and lower lip portions 9 e, 9 f isformed in an approximately semicircular columnar shape, and is formedsuch that an outer diameter thereof is smaller than an outer diameter ofthe spherical portion 9 a. A protruding length of each of the lipportions 9 e, 9 f is set to the same length. Further, the injectiondirection of the washer fluid is set by inner side surfaces 9 g, 9 hopposing to each other in a vertical direction. A step surface 9 i isformed in the inner side surface 9 h of the lower lip portion 9 f inaccordance with the present embodiment so as to form a step shape in thevertical direction, and the protruding tip portion of the inner sidesurface 9 h is positioned in a lower position than a lower edge of theinjection port 9 d. With the structure, a distance between a position ofa nozzle center O and a position of a leading end of the upper lipportion inner side surface 9 g is set smaller than a distance betweenthe position of the nozzle center O and a position of the lower lipportion inner side surface 9 h, whereby, as described later, the washerfluid injected from the injection port 9 d is injected to a portioncloser to the side of the center O of the nozzle 9 in the washer fluidinjected to the upper side than the washer fluid injected to the lowerside, and the grain diameter of the washer fluid in the upper side isgreater than that of the washer fluid in the lower side so as to be hardto be affected by the air flow at the vehicle traveling time.

The step surface 9 i is formed so as to be positioned in the leading endside corresponding to the washer fluid injection side in the lower lipportion 9 f, that is, in the side of the windshield FW.

Further, both of the left and right end portions of the upper and lowerlip portions 9 e, 9 f are formed as reinforcing portions 9 j, 9 kconnected in a bridge formation manner, whereby a strength of theprotruding upper and lower lip portions 9 e, 9 f is secured despite ofthe nozzle 9 formed by the resin material, and it is possible to preventthe lip portions 9 e, 9 f from being carelessly damaged. In this case,the reinforcing portions 9 j, 9 k are formed so that inner side surfacesare connected respectively to left and right edge portions of theinjection port 9 d, however, the inner side surfaces are formed asinclined surfaces 9 m, 9 n so as to be gradually apart from each otherFurther, tip side surfaces 9 p, 9 q of the reinforcing portions 9 j, 9 kare formed in a state of being flush with the step surface 9 i, wherebythe step surface 9 i can be easily set in the case of integrally moldingthe nozzle 9 on the passenger's seat side.

In this connection, in the case that the nozzle is made of a metal, itgoes without saying that it is unnecessary to purposely form thereinforcing portion, however, the reinforcing portion can be formed as amember for setting the injecting direction of the washer fluid from theinjection port.

In each of the injection nozzles 7 structured above, the washer fluid isflowed via a tube (not shown) connected to the connection portion 8 b ofthe nozzle body 8, and is injected from the injection port 9 d throughthe connection portion tubular hole 8 e, the holder portioncommunication hole 8 f and the tubular hole portion 9 b in each of thenozzles 9. At this time, the nozzle 9 in each of the injection nozzles 7is in a state in which the upper and lower lip portions 9 e, 9 f areformed in a protruding manner in the upper and lower edge portions ofthe injection port 9 d, and the reinforcing portion inclined surfaces 9m, 9 n are formed in a protruding manner in the left and right edgeportions of the nozzle injection port 1 d, whereby the washer fluid isinjected along the lip portion inner side surfaces 9 g, 9 h, and thereinforcing portion inclined surfaces 9 m, 9 n, and is set so as to beapplied in a diffusion shape to a periphery around a preset injectionhitting point of the windshield FW. The upper and lower lip portions 9e, 9 f have the same protruding length, however, the tip portion of thelower lip portion 9 f is positioned in the lower side than the loweredge portion of the injection port 9 d, the grain diameter of the washerfluid injected to the upper side is larger than the grain diameter ofthe washer fluid injected to the lower side, and the injection statethereof is a grain diameter distribution shown in FIG. 6B (in FIG. 6, asize of dot means a grain diameter). Accordingly, the washer fluidinjected from the nozzle 9 is set such that the air flow is lessaffected to the washer fluid in the upper side of the injection rangeeven when the vehicle travels, and the fluid application range at thetraveling time is not changed so much, at the vehicle stopping time.

In this connection, each of the injection nozzles 7 can be structuredsuch that a check valve is installed in the nozzle body 8 and aback-flow preventing function is achieved.

In the embodiment in accordance with the present invention structured inthe manner mentioned above, the respective injection nozzles 7 injectthe washer fluid in the diffusion shape around the preset portions onthe driver's and passenger's seat sides in the windshield FW. The nozzle9 assembled in the injection nozzle 7 is structured such that the stepsurface 9 i is formed on the inner side surface 9 h of the lower lipportion 9 f, and the injection side leading end portion of the lower lipportion 9 f is positioned in the lower side than the lower edge portionof the injection port 9 d. Accordingly, as in the same case of theconventional nozzle structured such that the upper lip portion in theupper and lower lip portions is long protruded, the washer fluidinjected from the nozzle injection port 9 d is hard to be affected bythe air flow at the vehicle traveling time because the washer fluidinjected to the upper side is closer to the side of the center O of thenozzle than the washer fluid injected to the lower side and the graindiameter of the washer fluid is increased. As a result, despite of thestructure in which the protruding length of the lip portion is set to bethe same, it is possible to prevent the problem that the washer fluidinjected from the injection port 9 d is affected by the air flow at thevehicle traveling time and the fluid application range to the windshieldFW is changed. As a result, the nozzle 9 can be made excellent in designin which the protruding lengths of the lip portions 9 e, 9 f are set thesame size, and it is possible to prevent the problem that the stress isconcentrated to one lip portion from the external world as in theconventional structure in which one lip portion is more protruded.

Further, in the present embodiment, the nozzle 9 is integrally molded bythe resin material, however, in this case, since the reinforcingportions 9 j, 9 k are formed in such a manner as to connect both rightand left end portions of the lip portions 9 e, 9 f, the strengths of thelip portions 9 e, 9 f can be secured in the same manner as the metalnozzle, and it is possible to prevent the lip portions 9 e, 9 f frombeing damaged. Further, in this structure, since the mutually opposinginner side surfaces of the reinforcing portions 9 j, 9 k are formed asthe inclined surfaces 9 m, 9 n so as to be connected to the left andright edge portions of the injection port 9 d, the injecting directionof the washer fluid injected from the injection port 9 d is set not onlyby the upper and lower lip portions 9 e, 9 f but also the left and rightinclined surfaces 9 m, 9 n, and it is possible to more securely set thefluid application range to the windshield FW.

Furthermore, in this structure, the injecting direction of the nozzle 9is adjusted by inserting an adjusting device (not shown) such as a pininto the injection port 9 d and rotating and sliding the nozzle 9 withinthe nozzle body mounting recess portion 8 d. Namely, the nozzle 9 can beadjusted upward by inserting the adjusting device into the injectionport 9 d and pressing down the adjusting device in a side of theinjection port 9 d with the base end side of the adjusting devicesupported to the leading end portion of the upper lip portion inner sidesurface 9 g. Further, the nozzle 9 can be adjusted downward by insertingthe adjusting device into the injection port 9 d and pressing up theadjusting device in the side of the injection port 9 d with the base endside of the adjusting device supported to the leading end portion of thelower lip portion inner side surface 9 h. At this time, because theprotruding amounts of the upper and lower lip portions 9 e, 9 f are thesame, the incline state of the adjusting device is not largely changedeven when the step surface 9 i is provided in the inner side surface 9 hof the lower lip portion 9 f. Accordingly, there is not generated theproblem that the incline of the adjusting device is sharp, the base endportion of the adjusting device is in contact with the front panel P ofthe vehicle body, and it is impossible to adjust, such as the case ofdownward adjusting the conventional nozzle in which the lower lipportion is short.

In this case, it is of course that the present invention is not limitedto the embodiment mentioned above, and the lower lip portion may bestructured as far as the protruding leading end portion is positioned inthe lower side than the lower side edge portion of the injection port.The present invention can be structured such as a second embodimentshown in FIG. 5A. In this embodiment, a step surface 13 i for forming alower lip portion 13 f of a nozzle 13 in a step shape is formed in astate of being connected to an injection port 13 d.

Further, as a structure for positioning the protruding leading endportion of the lip portion in the lower side than the lower side edgeportion of the injection port, the structure can be formed in aninclined shape in addition to the step shape. As the structure mentionedabove, there is, for example, a structure in accordance with a thirdembodiment shown in FIG. 5B. A nozzle 14 in accordance with the presentembodiment is structured such that a whole of an inner side surface 14 hof a lower lip portion 14 f protruding from a lower side edge portion ofan injection port 14 d is formed as an inclined surface which isinclined more downward in accordance with moving close to the protrudingend.

Furthermore, the structure can be made such as a fourth embodiment shownin FIG. 5C. A nozzle 15 in accordance with the present embodiment isstructured such that an inclined surface 15 r formed in a lower lipportion 15 f is formed on an inner side surface 15 h extending from aprotruding leading end position of reinforcing portions 15 j, 15 kformed in upper and lower lip portions 15 e, 15 f to a tip portion ofthe lower lip portion 15 f.

In addition, a nozzle 16 in accordance with a fifth embodiment shown inFIG. 5D is structured such that an inclined surface 16 r formed in alower lip portion 16 f is formed on an inner side surface 16 h extendingfrom a lower side edge portion of an injection port 16 d and aprotruding leading position of reinforcing portions 16 j, 16 k formed inupper and lower lip portions 16 e, 16 f.

In accordance with the second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments, inthe same manner as the first embodiment mentioned above, it is possibleto prevent the problem that the injection range of the washer fluid fromthe injection port is changed by the influence given by the air flowduring the traveling, without changing the protruding lengths of theupper and lower lip portions.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The injection nozzle in which the present invention is carried outinjects the washer fluid in the diffusion shape. The nozzle assembled inthe injection nozzle is structured such that the protruding tip portionof the lower lip portion is positioned in the lower side than the lowerside edge portion of the injection port. Accordingly, in the same manneras the nozzle structured such that the upper lip portion is protrudedlong in the conventional upper and lower lip portions, the washer fluidinjected from the nozzle injection port is closer to the side of thenozzle center in the washer fluid injected upward than the washer fluidinjected downward, the grain diameter of the washer fluid is increased,and it is possible to make the washer fluid hard to be affected by theair flow at the vehicle traveling time. As a result, despite of the sameprotruding length of the lip portion, there is not the problem that thewasher fluid injected from the injection port is affected by the airflow at the vehicle traveling time, and the fluid application range tothe window is changed. Further, the nozzle can be made excellent indesign in which the protruding length of the lip portion is set to bethe same size, there is not the problem that the stress is concentratedto one lip portion from the external world, as in the conventionalstructure in which one lip portion is protruded more, and the industrialapplicability mentioned above is obtained.

1. A nozzle structure in a washer fluid ejection apparatus having anozzle, said nozzle comprising: a tubular hole portion communicated witha washer fluid supply side; a throttle hole portion formed continuouslyfrom the tubular hole portion; an ejection port formed in a transverselylong shape in a washer fluid ejection side tip portion of the throttlehole portion; and a pair of upper and lower lip portions respectivelyprotruding in an ejection direction from upper and lower edge portionsof the ejection port with upper and lower inner side surfaces of thepair of the upper and lower lip portions that are facing with each otherbeing horizontally wider than the ejection port so as to set an ejectiondirection of a washer fluid, wherein a protruding tip portion of thelower lip portion is formed to be a stepped surface such that theprotruding tip portion is positioned lower than the lower side of theejection port, and a distance between a position of a nozzle center anda position of a leading end of the upper lip portion inner side surfaceis set smaller than a distance between the position of the nozzle centerand a position of the lower lip portion inner side surface.
 2. Thenozzle structure in a washer fluid ejection apparatus according to claim1, wherein the protruding amounts of the upper and lower lip portionsare set to substantially the same size.
 3. The nozzle structure in awasher fluid ejection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the nozzleis formed of a resin material, and is formed with reinforcing portionsconnecting portions between side portions of the upper and lower lipportions.
 4. The nozzle structure in a washer fluid ejection apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is formed of a resin material,and is formed with reinforcing portions connecting portions between sideportions of the upper and lower lip portions.
 5. The nozzle structure ina washer fluid ejection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in thecase that the lower lip portion is formed in the stepped shape, a stepsurface of the lower lip portion is formed flush with tip surfaces ofthe reinforcing portions.
 6. The nozzle structure in a washer fluidejection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in the case that thelower lip portion is formed in the stepped shape, a step surface of thelower lip portion is offset from tip surfaces of the reinforcingportions.
 7. A nozzle structure in a washer fluid ejection apparatushaving a nozzle, said nozzle comprising: a tubular hole portioncommunicated with a washer fluid supply side; a throttle hole portionformed continuously from the tubular hole portion; an ejection portformed in a transversely long shape in a washer fluid ejection side tipportion of the throttle hole portion; and a pair of upper and lower lipportions respectively protruding in an ejection direction from upper andlower edge portions of the ejection port so as to set an ejectiondirection of a washer fluid, wherein a protruding tip portion of thelower lip portion is formed in an inclined shape such that theprotruding tip portion is downwardly inclined relative to the lower edgeof the ejection port.
 8. The nozzle structure in a washer fluid ejectionapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the nozzle is formed of a resinmaterial, and is formed with reinforcing portions connecting portionsbetween side portions of the upper and lower lip portions.
 9. The nozzlestructure in a washer fluid ejection apparatus according to claim 7,wherein a start of the downward inclination of the lower edge starts atthe ejection port.
 10. The nozzle structure in a washer fluid ejectionapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the protruding amounts of theupper and lower lip portions are set to substantially the same size.